In 2002 in San Pietro, a village near Vicenza, the local government decided to allow the building of one of the largest zinc foundries in Italy. But against that decision a protest encampment was set, a small white tent in front of the enormous yellow building. They are not members of ecological groups or radical left minorities, only citizens who live near the foundry, finding themselves cut off from an agricultural heritage totally sold out to the private interests of entrepreneurial clans and their political patrons. La Mal'ombra chronicles a crucial year in the fight of the citizens of San Pietro, the period between May 2006 and June 2007: from the day in which the local authorities granted permission for the foundry to begin work.

The photo is by Simone Falso.

Andrea Segre, is PhD Doctor in Sociology of Communication at the University of Bologna, since several years he is operator in International Cooperation and Intercultural Projects in Italy, Eastern Europe, Mediterranean Area and Western Africa. He has written and directed several documentaries such as: Dio era un Musicista, selected at 62 International Venice Film Festival; and A Sud di Lampedusa (Claudio Accardi Award 2006, Finalist at Ilaria Alpi Award 2007, MedFest Award 2007).

Francesco Cressati, was director's assistant in the film A Cavallo della Tigre by Carlo Mazzacurati. He has written and directed several documentaries: A metà – storie tra Italia e Albania (2001), Marghera Canale Nord (2003), selected at the 60° International Venice Film Festival and it was special mention at the Roma DOC Festival.